Abstract:
In the future, it might be perfectly normal to wear suits and dresses made of chicken feathers or rice straw. But don't worry: These clothes won't resemble fluffy plumage or hairy door mats. Scientists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln plan to develop these agricultural waste products into conventional-looking fabrics as a way to reduce the use of petroleum-based synthetic fabrics. With millions of tons of chicken feathers and rice straw available worldwide each year, these agricultural wastes represent an abundant, cheap and renewable alternative to petroleum-based synthetic fibers, says Yiqi Yang, Ph.D., a professor of textile science at the university. And unlike petroleum-based fibers, these agro-fibers are biodegradable.